The ZTE nubia X 5G and Huawei P30 Pro New Edition represent interesting points in smartphone history. The nubia X, released with 5G connectivity, aimed for a niche gaming audience, while the P30 Pro New Edition offered a refined flagship experience at a potentially lower price point after its initial release. This comparison dissects their core differences to help you decide which, if either, remains a viable option today.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user in 2024, the Huawei P30 Pro New Edition offers a more balanced package. Its significantly faster 40W charging and capable camera system outweigh the nubia X 5G’s 5G connectivity, which is less crucial now. However, gamers prioritizing raw performance might find the nubia X’s Snapdragon 855 appealing.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 | LTE |
| 5G bands | NSA/Sub6 | - |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (6CA) Cat18 1200/150 Mbps, 5G (2+ Gbps DL) | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat21 1400/200 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| | CDMA2000 1xEV-DO | - |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | Not announced yet | 2020, May 12. Released 2020, June 01 |
| Status | Cancelled | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), glass back, aluminum frame | Glass front (Aluminosilicate glass), glass back (Aluminosilicate glass), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | - | 158 x 73.4 x 8.4 mm (6.22 x 2.89 x 0.33 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | - | 192 g (6.77 oz) |
| | - | IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 2m for 30 mins)
|
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 | - |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2280 pixels, 19:9 ratio (~403 ppi density) | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~398 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.26 inches, 97.8 cm2 | 6.47 inches, 102.8 cm2 (~88.6% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | OLED, HDR10 |
| | Secondary display (on the back): OLED, 5.1 inches, 720 x 1520 pixels, Corning Gorilla Glass 3 | - |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Kryo 485 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 485 & 4x1.78 GHz Kryo 485) | Octa-core (2x2.6 GHz Cortex-A76 & 2x1.92 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8150 Snapdragon 855 (7 nm) | Kirin 980 (7 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 640 | Mali-G76 MP10 |
| OS | Android 9.0 (Pie) | Android 10, EMUI 10.1, Google Play Services |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | No | Nano Memory (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| | - | UFS 3.0 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Dual | 16 MP, f/1.8, PDAF
24 MP, f/1.7, PDAF | - |
| Features | Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama | Leica optics, color spectrum sensor, dual-LED dual-tone flash, panorama, HDR |
| Triple | - | 40 MP, f/1.6, 27mm (wide), 1/1.7", PDAF, OIS
8 MP, f/3.4, 125mm (periscope telephoto), 1/4.0", PDAF, OIS, 5x optical zoom, 10x hybrid zoom
20 MP, f/2.2, 16mm (ultrawide), 1/2.7", PDAF
TOF 3D, (depth) |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@60fps, 1080p@30fps (gyro-EIS), 720p@960fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Dual | Uses main cameras | - |
| Features | Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama | HDR |
| Single | - | 32 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| | 32-bit/384kHz audio | 32-bit/384kHz audio |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.0, A2DP, aptX HD, LE |
| Infrared port | - | Yes |
| NFC | No | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5) |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C, OTG | USB Type-C 3.1 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Dual fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 18W wired, QC4 | 40W wired, 70% in 30 min
15W wireless
Reverse wireless |
| Type | Li-Po 3800 mAh, non-removable | Li-Po 4200 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Blue Gold, Sea Blue, Black Gold, Deep Gray, Starry Night (512 GB only) | Aurora, Black, Silver Frost |
| Price | - | About 820 EUR |
ZTE nubia X 5G
- Potentially better sustained gaming performance due to Snapdragon 855.
- 5G connectivity (though less relevant now).
- May offer a more customizable software experience.
- Significantly slower 18W charging.
- Likely inferior camera system compared to the P30 Pro.
- Missing wireless charging capabilities.
Huawei P30 Pro New Edition
- 40W SuperCharge for incredibly fast wired charging.
- Superior camera system with advanced image processing.
- Wireless and reverse wireless charging.
- Kirin 980 may offer slightly less raw CPU power than the Snapdragon 855.
- Software updates may be limited due to geopolitical factors.
- Potentially less focus on gaming-specific features.
Display Comparison
Neither device boasts cutting-edge display technology by today’s standards. Both utilize 7nm chipsets, suggesting similar display controller capabilities. However, detailed display specs (resolution, panel type, brightness) are missing. Given Huawei’s history, the P30 Pro likely features a more color-accurate OLED panel, while the nubia X may prioritize refresh rate for gaming. The absence of high refresh rate information on the nubia X is a notable omission, impacting its gaming appeal.
Camera Comparison
The Huawei P30 Pro New Edition is the clear winner in camera capabilities. While specific sensor details are missing for both, Huawei’s reputation for computational photography and its triple-lens system (including a periscope zoom lens) likely surpasses the nubia X’s camera setup. The P30 Pro’s image processing excels in low-light conditions and offers superior zoom capabilities. The nubia X’s camera is likely competent, but it won’t match the P30 Pro’s versatility and image quality. Ignoring potential 2MP depth or macro sensors on either device, the primary sensor and processing pipeline are key differentiators.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets: Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 855 (7nm) in the nubia X 5G versus Huawei’s Kirin 980 (7nm) in the P30 Pro New Edition. The Snapdragon 855’s Kryo 485 cores, with a peak clock speed of 2.84 GHz, offer a slight theoretical advantage in single-core performance. However, the Kirin 980’s Cortex-A76 cores are known for their efficiency. Real-world performance will depend on software optimization and thermal management. The nubia X’s focus on gaming suggests it may have better sustained performance under load, but this is speculative without thermal testing data. The P30 Pro’s CPU architecture, with its dual Cortex-A76 cluster, is well-suited for multitasking.
Battery Life
The Huawei P30 Pro New Edition dominates in charging speed with its 40W wired charging, capable of reaching 70% in just 30 minutes. This is a significant advantage over the nubia X 5G’s 18W QC4 charging. The P30 Pro also adds 15W wireless charging and reverse wireless charging, features absent on the nubia X. While battery capacity isn’t specified, the faster charging and wireless capabilities of the P30 Pro make it the more convenient option for users who prioritize minimizing downtime.
Buying Guide
Buy the ZTE nubia X 5G if you prioritize raw processing power for gaming and are willing to sacrifice battery convenience. Its Snapdragon 855, while older, still delivers strong performance. Buy the Huawei P30 Pro New Edition if you value a superior camera experience, faster charging speeds, and a more refined overall user experience, even if it means slightly less raw CPU horsepower.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Does the Kirin 980 in the P30 Pro New Edition struggle with demanding games compared to the Snapdragon 855?
While the Snapdragon 855 has a slight theoretical edge in raw CPU power, the Kirin 980 is still a capable chipset. Most games will run smoothly on the P30 Pro New Edition, but the nubia X 5G might maintain slightly higher frame rates in graphically intensive titles over extended periods. However, thermal throttling could negate this advantage.
❓ Is the 5G connectivity on the nubia X 5G still a significant benefit in 2024?
5G networks are now widely available, but the performance difference between 5G and 4G+ is often marginal in real-world usage. The nubia X 5G’s 5G capability is less of a differentiating factor than it was at launch, and most users won’t see a substantial benefit over a 4G device.
❓ How does the camera processing differ between the nubia X 5G and the P30 Pro New Edition?
Huawei’s P30 Pro New Edition is renowned for its computational photography, producing vibrant and detailed images, especially in low-light conditions. The nubia X 5G likely offers a more natural image processing style, but it won’t match the P30 Pro’s dynamic range and overall image quality.
